Can you see gorillas in Rwanda?
Can you see gorillas in Rwanda? Yes, you can see gorillas in Rwanda. The country is a popular place to see gorillas in their natural habitat and this opportunity is witnessed in the Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking is a unique adventure that allows visitors to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. These special encounters are attentively managed by professional game guides and rangers who lead a limited number of trekkers to the forest-covered slopes of the Virunga ranges to spend one valuable hour in the presence of the gentle giant apes.
Volcanoes National Park is a mountain gorilla destination nestled in the northwestern corner of the land of a thousand hills. The park is part of the Virunga Massif shared by Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This park houses five of the eight mountains that make up the Virungas and these include Mount Sabinyo, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Karisimbi, and Mount Mhabura.
Volcanoes National Park has 12 fully habituated gorilla families, with a few others habituated but set aside mainly for scientific research. Each gorilla family consists of a leading silverback along with several females and juveniles.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is about 106 kilometres (65 miles) away from Kigali city and Kigali International Airport, which is roughly two and half hour’s drive. Tourists are advised to book through tour operators, who will easily make all the arrangements for your gorilla trekking expedition in the Volcanoes National Park.
Getting to Volcanoes National Park is quite easy with a multitude of options. Transfers to the park can be done through either private or public means.
If you opt for road transport by private means that is through your tour operator, the most convenient gateway to the park is Musanze. Public means are not allowed to access Musanze so you will have to hire another private means to connect you to Musanze and the park at Kinigi. Visitors are advised to use a 4×4 safari vehicle as they head to the park because the terrain is rough and full of volcanic rocks.
By flight, take a scheduled flight from Kigali International Airport to Musanze. Flights give you an aerial view of Rwanda’s bustling city and rolling hills. The flight takes only 25 minutes but must still use road transport to connect to Kinigi Park headquarters when trekking begins.
The Gorilla tracking process
Gorilla trekking is an extraordinary wildlife experience that involves hiking into dense rainforests in search of the gentle apes in their natural habitat. Gorilla tracking starts with an early morning briefing about the dos and dons of the tracking expedition. This will be done at Kinigi Park headquarters. After the briefing, trekkers are put into groups of 8 individuals each of whom should be 15 years and above. Experienced game rangers and guides lead the groups into the jungles to search for their human cousins. The trek will take 4-5 hours but on finding the gentle apes, you are allowed to spend one joyous hour observing the gorilla family. you will come to learn that each family is led by a dominant silverback. Other members of the family include females, blackbucks(youth males), juveniles, and babies. Enjoy their play, the silverback guarding the family, the females taking care of the young ones, how they spend the day feeding and making nests for the night. You will be given time to take flashless photos then return to the headquarters for tracking certificates and proceed back to your accommodation.
Cost of a gorilla permit
Gorilla trekking permit is a legal document that enables tourists of 15 years and above to access and have close sight of the gentle apes in their natural habitat. Trekkers are allowed to spend one hour with the habituated gorilla family. Trekking gorillas in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park costs $1500 per non-foreign resident, African foreign residents and East African residents are charged $500. All permits should be booked in advance, 3 months before the tracking date to avoid disappointments that come with last-minute bookings.
Best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking activity
Can you see gorillas in Rwanda?, Gorilla trekking activity in Volcanoes National Park can be done at any time of the year but the high season from June to September is considered the best because getting to the park is easy and the hiking trails are neither muddy nor slippery. There are fewer chances of rainfall. The short dry season from December to February is also conducive as even birding is at its peak.
During the rainy season from April to May and October, gorillas can also be tracked and seen as they tend to move from higher to lower altitudes due to the rise in temperature and this period offers the best photographic moments.
How to pack for gorilla trekking
Gorilla tracking is a life-challenging adventure that needs one to be well-prepared. It’s always important to know the right trekking gear to carry for your gorilla trekking safari. The gear should be in line with your travel budget and the period of travel. Some of the things you should not miss packing for your tracking safari include
Valid Gorilla tracking permits and passports: These documents are mainly required at the park headquarters before trekking and at the hotel of accommodation for easy identification. At times vaccination shots for diseases like yellow fever are necessary.
Hiking boots: These should be of a high quality, and comfortable not to hurt your ankles and allow easy movement through the muddy and slippery trails during the rainy season.
Clothing: When packing clothes for a gorilla trip, make sure not to forget the following: long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, waterproof jackets, sweaters, and long socks. Other activities outside gorilla tracking, carry light clothes like short-sleeved blouses, t-shirts and night pajamas. A rain jacket and sweater are very crucial during the rainy season since the parks are found in the tropical rainforest zones where rainpours are expected at any time, so don’t risk leaving them behind.
Gloves: At times the tracking trails are muddy and slippery, the gloves will protect your hands from being pinched by thorns when you hold tree branches as you trek.
Other equipment to carry may include hair ties and headbands that help you tie your hair so that it does not get stuck in the small branches of the crippling plant stems you go through when tracking.
Since the trekking activity takes longer hours, it is advisable to carry snacks, packed lunch, and drinking water. This will help you to remain energetic until the end of the activity.
A walking stick is also essential to give you extra support, especially when you go to higher altitudes during the trek.
Trekkers are advised to hire porters to help them carry their small bags that contain their food and drinks. This will help the trekker not to get tired so easily and enjoy the activity.
Cameras and binoculars can also be carried for photography and remembrance of the amazing gorilla tracking activity.